When I'm in randori, the technique that I mostly do that works nicely is Harai Goshi, but I'm starting to get countered since I do it often. When I try to do something like Seoi Nage, I can never seem to get it nicely. How can I improve this? I practice it a lot but it never comes out good. Either they stop me in the motion, or they don't let me get in.

3 Answers
3

Keep HaraiGoshi as your main attack, but try to develop a couple of other throws, to be less predictable. Develop your Kumikata to be able to launch if from different grip. Feint with HaraiGoshi to setup a new move. One I liked myself was start with Harai Goshi, from a very close position, bend your leg and hook his exterior leg when he blocks, and use the fact he try to force in the opposite direction to keep a good grip on him and to slide-jump-rotate in from of him into OSotoGari)

Everything is about putting your oponent off balance. Since you know they will counter your Harai Goshi, find a partner, instruct him to block your Harai Goshi, and to stop moving, keeping is feets at the same position etc. Now start your movement practice from there. Work to find a couple of technique that will work in that is situation, so you'll be able to use the reflex they have when you launch your Harai Goshi against them.

After that, practice the other way around, find a technique that will force your oponent to move into the position you want to launch your Harai goshi from, like oGhoshi, or Ashi Barai. But you must be able to actually throw people with that move before its a solid combination, else poeple will just know right away what you are trying to pull off.

(sorry if I dont get the names right, I'm not used to spelling them down and I stop teaching a few years ago )

You need to find or invent more setups for your haraigoshi. Develop footwork and feints that allow you to enter into that throw from moving backward, forward, circling to the left, and circling to the right. More versatility in how you set up that throw will make counters less likely.

At the same time, but with less priority, keep working on other throws like seoinage: uchikomi, nagekomi, and keep trying it in randori even if it gets stuffed.